Published 29 August 2024 Author: Stefan Talmon
On 24 August 2024, Namibia denied the German-owned cargo vessel MV Kathrin, sailing under the flag of Portugal, access to its port of Walvis Bay on the ground that the vessel was carrying ‘explosive material destined for Israel.’
Upon receiving reports that the MV Kathrin may be carrying weapons intended for Israel, the Namibian Minister of Justice on 23 August 2024 addressed ‘a letter to Cabinet, international relations ministry, works ministry, as well as the safety and security ministry, advising and reminding them of our international obligations, not only under the Genocide Convention but also as articulated in the recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).’ The Minister asked the port authorities to not allow the vessel to dock in Namibian ports. As a result, Namibia’s Police Inspector-General issued a note stating:
Kindly be informed that permission no. 21/2024 granted to the MV Kathrin vessel dated 13 August has been revoked with immediate effect. Hence, the said vessel is strictly prohibited from entering Namibian waters in terms of Cabinet Decision NO. 9th/04, 06.24/006.
The MV Kathrin had initially been scheduled to dock at Walvis Bay on 25 August on its journey from Haiphong, Vietnam, to Koper, Slovenia. The vessel was reported to be carrying sixty containers of Tri-NitroToluene (TNT) and eight containers of hexogen explosives.
The Namibian Minister of Justice justified the denial of port access, stating that ‘Namibia complies with our obligation not to support or be complicit in Israeli war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, as well as its unlawful occupation of Palestine.’ There was no immediate reaction from the owners of the vessel or the German government.
Category: News
DOI: 10.17176/20240829-143836-0
